IQALUIT
The capital's francophone community radio station, CFRT, is debuting a collection of snippets that tell Iqaluit history in residents' voices.
Murielle Jassinthe, media co-ordinator for radio station CFRT in Iqaluit, helped train some community members on speaking for radio in a new project the station recently completed and is debuting. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
"We have more than 40 audio segments that we recorded and edited and we're going to put on air during 2016," said Murielle Jassinthe, media co-ordinator for the station.
The segments will run regularly during the year as well as being archived on the CFRT website.
Funding from the Community Radio Fund of Canada made the project, called Raconte-moi Iqaluit, a reality.
Community members were brought in one by one to the station to read out and record two- to three-minute segments of Iqaluit's history, attractions and culture. Topics cover Sylvia Grinnell Park, schools, the beach, the court and even the "Four Corners" main intersection in the city.
"It makes people from the community participate in the community radio and also learn a bit about doing radio, because at the same time I explain to them a few things and they get in touch with that and get the desire to be a volunteer," said Jassinthe.
Segments delve into both French and Inuit culture.
"It helps the radio station be closer to its community," said Jassinthe. "I find it interesting because it's not only about Francophone places or things - it's more about the city and its environment and its history."
Although small in number, Iqaluit's Francophone community is organized and active, seen in all aspects of the city's culture, business, fundraisers and community groups.
"We try to not only get involved in the Francophone community but also be a part of the entire community, be a part of Iqaluit and be a part of this community," said Jassinthe.
She hopes Raconte-moi Iqaluit makes residents feel like they have the reins of their community radio station in hand and are a part of it.
"I think that people really enjoyed it," she said. "A lot of them were really happy to participate. I had a lot of fun to do it. It wasn't easy every day, but I got to meet new people or people I already knew but I got to talk to them more, maybe teach them something and see those people really happy to gain a new ability. It really shows the diversity of the Francophone community."
The clips will be running periodically on CFRT during the year and will be available on the radio's website.
